Unprecedented demand for IPL broadcast rights

The IPL broadcast rights -- internet, TV and mobile -- are expected to fetch the BCCI a massive sum of around Rs. 20,000 crore-plus.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India may have been embroiled in legal tussle but there is no dearth of interest in the Indian Premier League's broadcast rights with telecommunications major Airtel and web service provider Yahoo also buying the bid document.

It has been learnt that apart from Discovery and Yupp TV, which had also bought bid document few days back, there have been four more companies that has shown interest taking the total number of interested parties to 24.

"Yes, Airtel and Yahoo have bought bid documents. Along with them the other two new companies are BAMTech and DAZN/Perform Group, who also have bought documents. Both BamTech and DAZN/Perform group are working in the digital space," a BCCI official told PTI.

Both BAMTech and Perform group operate in the digital space.

The 18 eligible companies, who bought bid documents last year before the process was stalled are: Star India, Amazon Seller Services, Followon Interactive Media, Taj TV India, Sony Pictures Networks, Times Internet, Supersport International, Reliance Jio Digital, Gulf DTH FZ LLC, GroupM Media, beIN, Econet Media, SKY UK, ESPN Digital Media, BTG Legal Services, BT PLC, Twitter, Facebook Inc.

All the rights will be for a period of five years from 2018-2022.

The broadcast rights is divided into three particular categories -- TV, mobile and internet. The deadline for submission of sealed bids is September 4.

The IPL broadcast rights -- internet, TV and mobile -- are expected to fetch the BCCI an unprecedented sum of around Rs. 20,000 crore-plus.

Star India, Sony Pictures Network are some of the major channels that will be vying for the TV rights of the cash rich channels.